Power system expansion planning: BPA´s perspective

Summary form only given. This panel contribution focuses on the strategic planning issues of a regional transmission operator in the western part of the US grid. There has been little investment in new regional transmission capacity over the last 15 years. Continuing load growth eroded reliability margins and deregulation stressed the grid in unforeseen ways. Transmission constraints played a large role in the recent West Coast energy crisis that had far reaching economic consequences for the region´s utilities and consumers. The social and economic impacts of rolling blackouts and wild price fluctuations are still being felt today. In early 2001, BPA identified over $2 billion of new transmission investment in the northwest grid needed to restore adequate reliability margins and reduce price volatility by relieving crippling congestion. This panel contribution describes the plan and its implementation. The role of FERC regulations in responding to requests for transmission service and allocating costs are discussed.